Academic Highlights: Advances in the Treatment of Alcohol Dependence. [CME]

Approximately 18 million adult Americans, who represent 8.5% of the population, suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence each year, with men affected slightly more frequently than women.' Richard N. Rosenthal, M.D., noted that the prevalence of alcoholism is similar to rates of other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, depression, and asthma.2"5 Additionally, alcohol abuse and dependence are associated with more than 100,000 annual deaths and up to 40% of annual hospitalizations. 1,6 Despite the high prevalence of alcohol dependence and abuse and the availability of 4 medication formulations approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of these disorders, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reported that only about 1% of afflicted individuals receive alcohol-specific treatment.